Improvement in capsuling bottles



J. PATE'RSONJI v Capsuling Machine.

No. 121,407. PatentedNov-28,187I.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

JAMES PATERSON, OF EDINBURGH, NORTH BRITAIN, ASSIGNOB TO WILLIAM 1 BETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAPSULING BOTTLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,407, dated November 28, 1871-.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES PATERSON, of Edinburgh, in the county of Midlothian, North Britain, consulting engineer, have invented improvements in capsuling bottles and other vessels, and

' in the apparatus or means employed therefor, of

which the following is a specification:

This invention, which relates to improvements in fixing capsules on bottles or other vessels in a more rapid and efiectual manner than hitherto practiced, consists mainly in the employment of hydraulic or fluid pressure for that purpose. The pressure is applied on the exterior of an Indiarubber or other elastic chamber, into which the neck of the bottle, with the capsule loosely res ing thereon, is placed. In the upper part of the apparatus a cylinder fitted with a plunger is situated, and which is coupled by a lever and connectin g-rod to a treadle. The operator, when depressing the treadle by means of his foot, causes the plunger to descend in the cylinder, which action forces the water or other liquid or fluid into the space surrounding the elastic ch amber, which, thereby becoming compressed around the cap sule, also compresses it, and compels it to assume a form corresponding to the neck of the bottle or other vessel, and upon which it therefore becomes securely fixed.

The accompanying drawing represents a side elevation, partly in section, of the improved bottle-capsuling apparatus hereinbefore referred to.

A is the supporting-standard, of castiron or other suitable material, and of any convenient shape, to which is bolted the casting B containing the cylinder (1, which opens into the chamber 1). Within this cylinder works, through a stuffingbox, 0, the ram or plunger d, which is actuated in any convenient manner either by hand or by the foot of the operator. In my drawing I have shown it as being actuated by hand, it being slotted at its upper end and having the end of a lever, O, passing through such slot, the said lever working on a fixed center, D, in the standard. In this lever there is jointed, at E, the connecting-rod F, which is jointed at its lower end to the small lever-arm G, fast on one end of a short rocking-shaft, H, working in a long bush or collar bearing, I, cast on or otherwise secured to the standard. On the opposite end of this rocking-shaft, and situated on one side of the machine, there is fitted the hand-lever K, by which the operator depresses and elevates the plunger 01. Within the chamber 12 there is fitted the clastic chamber 0, of vulcanized India rubber or other suitably-elastic material, a flange and thickened portion being formed round the mouth of the clastic chamber to enable it to be secured perfectly fluid-tight, by means of the screwed ring f, to the mouth of the chamber 1). Thus the elastic chamher 6 forms a species of lining to the chamber b, or a chamber within a chamber. g is an adjustable stop screwed into a recess in a projecting boss, h, in the back of the chamber 1), against which stop the end of the elastic chamber 6 bears.

The machine having been prepared for use by introducing water or other suitable liquid into the cylinder at and chamber 1), the neck of the,

bottle to be capsuled is, with the soft-metal capsule upon it, inserted into the elastic chamber 0 and pushed home to the end of that chamber against the stop g. The plunger dis now brought down by a sudden movement, as hereinbefore described, and the hydraulic pressure of the liquid round the exterior sides of the elastic chamber (the end pressure being avoided by the close contact of the end of the elastic chamber against the stop) will cause such chamber to compress the soitmetal capsule equally all round the neck of the bottle. The plunger may be elevated either to the hand of the operator or, by means of an India-rubber or other spring, attached to a pin on the short lever G and to a convenient fixed part of the standard.

I claim-- 1. The within-described process of applying metallic capsules to bottles--that is, by the pressure of a fluid acting upon an elastic diaphragm so constructed as to inclose the neck of the bottle and its metallic covering.

2. The combination of the cylinder 0!, ram or plunger 61, chamber 12, and elastic chamber 0, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- Both of 94 Constitution Street, Leith. (1) 

